1 February 2005
New association for 250 grassroots newspapers
South Africa's 250 'invisible' grassroots newspapers finally have a unified voice with the establishment of the Association of Independent Publishers of Southern Africa (AIPSA). The new regional umbrella body was established at a national conference in the country's commercial capital, Johannesburg, on 18 September 2004 after almost one year of heated debate.
1 February 2005
How the Mozambican media performed during election time
During the electoral process in Mozambique, media gave more attention to the ruling and winning party Frelimo than to other political parties. Further, journalists reported on the organisational aspects of the elections, rather than on party programmes. Five journalists reflect on the performance of the media.
1 February 2005
A powerful voice from behind bars
Doors slam and loud voices ring out in the background, as a group of women meet in a tiny office in the women’s section of Pollsmoor Prison near Cape Town. But inside the office, oblivious to the distractions, the women, all inmates, are holding an editorial meeting to decide on the content for the next edition of Women’s Link, one of South Africa’s most unusual publications.
1 February 2005
Zimbabwe's hampered flow of information in run-up to elections
A few weeks before the Zimbabwean parliamentary elections slated for a still to be announced date in March, things are as 'normal' as they can be in the country. Whether Zimbabwe’s biggest opposition party takes part or not, the question whether voters are fully empowered to make an informed choice will play a very significant role in the result of the election.
1 February 2005
Echoes' journalists gauge interest all over the country
A complaint that is often levelled at Namibian media, in general, is that they do not listen to the average man or woman and their community. The Echoes Polytechnic Student News Service is set up with the aim of providing coverage of issues that affect those at the grassroots of Namibian society.
1 February 2005
Botswana's media during election time: barely one article a day
MISA Botswana embarked on a three-months Media Monitoring Project on elections for the first time. The aim of the project was to examine how elections were reported in the local media, including the political and gender balance of such reporting.
